2nd Annual PIERfect Benefit Gala

Santa Monica Pier's century-old Carousel Building has hosted plenty of events over the years, but this Saturday it becomes something else entirely: a 1930s casino ship called the S.S. Rex. The Santa Monica Pier Corporation is throwing its second annual PIERfect Benefit Gala, and the whole point is to raise money for the free community programming the pier runs year-round.

The theme pulls from real history. The original S.S. Rex was an offshore gambling ship that operated off the Santa Monica coast during Prohibition, drawing Hollywood celebrities and casino regulars alike. This gala nods to that era with Art Deco casino tables (craps, roulette, blackjack), live music by the Art Deco Jazz Orchestra, and signature cocktails built around the aesthetic. You can even bet on carousel horse races, which is about as Santa Monica as it gets.

Comedian Olivia Hill hosts, so don't expect a stiff fundraiser atmosphere. The silent auction includes a notable item: tickets to Goldenvoice's Ocean Way Festival. If you want more gambling chips than you'll get at the door, buy them in advance at a 50% discount through the event page.

What's included: Casino play, live jazz, carousel horse races, cocktails, and silent auction access. Advance chip packages are available.

Tickets: General admission starts at $175. You can grab them at santamonicapier.org. Consider it one of the better food events in Los Angeles that comes with a genuine reason to dress up.

Getting there: The Carousel Building sits right at the foot of the pier at 200 Santa Monica Pier. Street parking fills fast on weekends, so the Big Blue Bus (Line 1 and 10 both stop nearby) or a rideshare drop-off at the pier entrance works better than circling. The pier structure itself is accessible; the Carousel Building has flat entry from the pier deck.

Why it matters: The Santa Monica Pier Corporation uses these proceeds to fund free events that don't charge locals anything to attend. Pier concerts, family programming, and community gatherings stay free because of nights like this one. The gala is a genuinely fun way to support that, and the 1930s setup gives it a different energy than a standard ticketed dinner.

If you're looking for things to do in Los Angeles this weekend that don't feel like they came off a list, a speakeasy-era party on a historic pier carousel is a reasonable answer.

Explore more Santa Monica events or browse our food and drink events calendar.